Luxury Dining Destinations - March 2023

Cover Feature

AKASA

Jumeirah Bali - INDONESIA

Situated on the topmost level of Jumeirah Bali, the newly opened signature restaurant AKASA places diners in the midst of nature, sea and sky with awe-inspiring views across the island’s gin-clear waters and romantic sunset panoramas.

Inspired by the Majapahit era, the golden age of Java, the elegant restaurant invites guests to relax over lunch in the sun or an alfresco moonlit dinner to make the most of Bali’s balmy climate. Inside, the chic décor evokes a stately banquet hall where a royal Javanese family would entertain an intimate group of friends amid the splendour and royal ceremony.

AKASA’s Asian fusion menu created by Chef Joan Achour delights with rich, smoky flavours of Bali while referencing Thai, Japanese and Korean cuisines as well. By focusing on dishes that are perfect for sharing, Chef Joan pays tribute to Bali’s time-honoured tradition of serving family-style meals on large platters and inviting everyone to help themselves. Starting with a crudo selection that includes flame-grilled tuna tartare with Timut pepper and wood-fired veal katsu, Chef Achour’s menu is also an ode to nourishing dishes of Bali cooked over an aromatic, wood-fired flame that uses seasonally-changing local firewood.

The food menu is complemented by a comprehensive cocktail list from a resident mixologist and a vast wine selection from AKASA’s underground wine cellar accessible via a glass elevator, while a musicologist takes care of live music programming every night.

Yamazato Japanese Fine Dining

Hotel Okura Manila - PHILIPPINES

The Okura’s signature Japanese fine dining restaurant Yamazato serves only the freshest ingredients that ensure supreme taste and unmatched quality.

Yamazato’s specialty, the time-honored Kaiseki Ryouri, is a multi-course Japanese haute cuisine meticulously crafted by the culinary team, as the seasons change.

The food emphasizes the unique flavors of traditional ingredients and is served in small sequences, to let you appreciate every detail in delight.

Yamazato also offers an array of teppanyaki and shabu shabu dishes, as well as an à la carte menu. The dishes evolve with the seasons and the availability of the ingredients.

The restaurant celebrates several popular Japanese festivals throughout the year with special set menus.

Favola at Le Méridien Chiang Mai

Le Méridien Chiang Mai - THAILAND

Located in the 5-star Le Méridien Chiang Mai, Favola is an authentic Italian restaurant that showcases the genuine flavours in a contemporary yet soulful environment. At Favola, their highest aim is to serve food that is true to tradition and origins, made from the highest quality ingredients and partnered with the fine details of Italy’s culture of cuisine, with professional services in friendly atmosphere.

Contemporary, upbeat dining experiences attract hotel guests, discerning travellers and local residents alike. Genuine rustic recipes and signature original creations are expertly crafted from the freshest local and imported ingredients, including Royal Project organic produce.

Interactive gastronomy continues with a highly knowledgeable wine pairing service, courtesy of the showpiece glass walk-in cellar, which houses a progressive repertoire of over 1,000 bottles, along with the largest grappa selection in town.

Baan Dum Oceanfront Seafood

Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin - THAILAND

Baan Dum – meaning ‘black house’ – offers a tantalising culinary voyage inspired by the local flavours of Hua Hin, in an authentic architectural setting with sea views. Fresh fish and seafood are the star attractions here, ably assisted by the finest ingredients sourced daily from local markets and served with Thai hospitality.

Architecturally, Baan Dum Oceanfront Seafood stands out because of its unique style, dating back a hundred years to the era of Rama VI’s reign. The restaurant offers an al fresco open-air seating with exquisite views over the Gulf of Thailand. The atmosphere is complemented by the enchanting melodies of a singer.

YUIMOM Group. AW Café. Winter

The Café under the winter aurora. AW Café. is designed under the concept of YUIMOM Group’s resonance to the ephemeral four seasons - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

In this project - AW Café. Winter is an all-day-dining cafe that opens from 7am till 8pm. As for the menu design, the Brigade de Cuisine led by the French Chef emphasizes the experience of a natural diet made of organic and fresh ingredients. The broad vision of the open kitchen also highlights the flexibility and coziness of the space.

AW Café. is not only a diner on the street corner, but also a good neighbor hoping to provide a high quality dining experience. Except for fulfilling the need for three meals and banquets of the long staying guests, the residents in the neighborhood may also have the healthiest and tasteful food.

Different from general food service, AW Café’s open kitchen allows consumers to see the chef’s cooking process, and the restaurant space without a sense of distance can convey more people-to-people interaction during meals. Based on the four seasons, which is the overall theme of S.S.A.W, The café concept is Winter. The design is based on the story of a boy who went out on a winter night and saw an aurora in the sky. So delighted was he, he put a little piece of the aurora in a little box and took it home with him. Later that night, he let the aurora light the ceiling of his living room, and told everyone that he has his own aurora. The spirit of a restaurant comes from the relationship between food and people. Through AW Café, the idea of “winter” of the Four Seasons restaurants is expressed.

LUCE by Davide Giacomelli

InterContinental Singapore - SINGAPORE

From the bright flavours on the plate to the warm, inviting atmosphere, light is at the heart of everything behind LUCE – the latest Italian bistronomic concept at InterContinental Singapore. Here, you’ll find traditional Italian cuisine at its purest, where simplicity is an art form and fresh seasonal produce is the star on every plate.

The dishes are a culmination of Chef de Cuisine Davide Giacomelli’s training under the tutelage of multiple Michelin-starred chefs and pays homage to his earliest love affair - the sight, scent and flavours of classic Italian cooking at his father’s restaurant in the quaint town of Sirmione, ‘the pearl’ of Lake Garda. Enjoy the finest Italian cuisine, complemented by a curated range of Italian wines and specialty cocktails by restaurant manager and sommelier, Artem Viglione.

The Queen Wine and Restaurant

Eland Park Kensington Hotel Seorak, Sokcho-si- SOUTH KOREA

Find a touch of Royal House at The Queen Restaurant with a collection of the Royal Family in artifacts and treasured frames. The authentic taste of the European grill can be savoured. The Queen Restaurant proudly presents a British style full course meal and fresh seafood. Capture the moment of beautiful sceneries of Mt. Seorak sitting at the restaurant.

Since 1996, the Queen has selected the vineyards of the world to bring an exquisite collection of wines, each a perfect embodiment of the wine-producing region from where it comes. Each selected bottle can be enjoyed on its own or as a subtle complement to the guests’ culinary experience in the restaurant. With their ‘Voyage des vin’, the wine menu of the Queen, guests are invited to embark upon a vinicultural journey that spans from the traditional excellence of the old world wines, especially Bourgogne, France and Toscana, Italy. All offering a taste of the finest examples of traditional and elegant wine making.

Hakone

Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Seoul - SOUTH KOREA

Hakone Japanese restaurant brings together aspects of its namesake’s scenery: the signature mosaic pattern of Hakone’s traditional woodwork known as Yosegi; light and shadows; traditional Japanese materials and colours come together to create an authentic four-part atmosphere. Hakone expresses the natural beauty of the mountainous town’s famous, precipitous slopes with a centrally located indoor garden.

As the Japanese philosophy, Ryotei, dictates that cherished guests are to be received in the innermost area of a space, a sushi bar has been set up near the entrances and guests are invited to dine in special rooms in the centre of the restaurant.

Notably, Hakone serves traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern twist, showcasing the essence of modern Kaiseki. Also on offer is an assortment of Edomae-style nigiri sushi, dishes that incorporate fresh seafood and vegetables, specialty mushrooms, hot dishes, and a variety of side dishes that complement the flavours of the main dish.

Sky Lounge

Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Seoul - SOUTH KOREA

Sky Lounge was certified as OSPITALITA ITALIANA by the Italian government in 2013. Here you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, prepared by an Italian chef.

Late in the evening, you can choose from a fine selection of cocktails and wines recommended by the sommelier. Known as a favourite place for making marriage proposals, you can experience a spectacular view of the city and a truly romantic ambience in the Pluto Room.

Located on the top floor of the InterContinental Seoul COEX, Sky Lounge is the perfect place to enjoy the ever changing view of the city.

Ultima Gstaad Restaurant

Ultima Gstaad - SWITZERLAND

Expect culinary excellence at Ultima Gstaad Restaurant. The menus have been curated by head chef Andrea Franceschi, creating unique dishes that will always impress.

Over the past 20 years, he has mastered techniques in some of the most celebrated kitchens across Europe – most notably under Joël Robuchon at Le Table in Paris and Gordon Ramsey at The Connaught in London. He does not have a signature dish, yet his statement style is undeniable; dishes fit for an art gallery, delivered with unexpected twists.

Infusing fresh Swiss produce with flavours from around the world, Franceschi sources seasonal and naturally grown ingredients to surprise even the most loyal of diners.

The Restaurant & Terrace is exquisitely crafted for snug evenings in the mountains, and relaxing al-fresco lunches during the summer.

Berchtesgadener Esszimmer Berchtesgaden - GERMANY

Quality through regionality. Under this motto, Roxana and Maximilian Kühbeck run the small restaurant with about 10 to 15 seats, as a couple.

Berchtesgadener Esszimmer is located in one of the most beautiful areas in Germany, the Berchtesgadener Land. Guests have their dining experience in a historical house of the 16th century. The beautiful, unique and cozy atmosphere, combined with the cordial service of Roxana, makes guests feel like they are dining with friends and invites to linger longer and enjoy.

The kitchen only uses products of the highest quality standards and can be described as an innovative market cuisine with predominantly organic food from the region around the Berchtesgadener - and Salzburger areas.

However, the chef is strongly influenced by French, German, Austrian and Peruvian dishes and reinvents these classics from time to time.

ÖSCH NOIR

Der Öschberghof, Donaueschingen - GERMANY

ÖSCH NOIR - The fine dining restaurant of Der Öschberghof hotel offers 40 seats in a modern setting with extraordinary design elements.

Head chef Manuel Ulrich comes from the region and started his culinary career at the Öschberghof. After different tenures in Oberlech/Arlberg, the 2-Michelin-starred Restaurant Haerlin in the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg and most recently in the 3-Star-Michelin Schwarzwaldstube in the Traube Tonbach, Baisersbronn, Ulrich has now returned to his home turf, offering his own, modern interpretation of typical Black Forrest cuisine with the support of his mainly local team.

Lux Lucis

LUX LUCIS is home to the Michelin-starred cuisine of Chef Valentino Cassanelli. Valentino’s dishes are a free expression of Italian cuisine, with an unrestrained creativity, drawing not only from his own life experiences, but also the rich biodiversity surrounding the coastal town of Forte dei Marmi.

Inspiration too comes from his close collaboration with Maître Sommelier Sokol Ndreko, with dishes often beginning with the flavour profiling of particular wines. The result are menus that are delicately balanced and elegant, happily journeying from land to sea and delivering the very best in seasonal ingredients.

Situated on the rooftop of Hotel Principe Forte dei Marmi, in a stunning landscape caught between mountains and sea, the 24-seat restaurant is ideally positioned to capture the aureate evening light, offering panoramic views over the town’s stone pines to the Apuan Alps in the east and westwards over the Tyrrhenian Sea. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2017.

La Civetta sul Comò

TENUTA MONTEMAGNO Relais & Spa, Montemagno - ITALY

Tenuta Montemagno RELAIS & WINES is in the heart of the Monferrato hills, which are UNESCO heritage, among vineyards, farmland, and historical sites. An ancient 1800 farmhouse, restored to its original splendor, today is a beautiful relais in Monferrato, a hospitable place to enjoy an experience.

The Restaurant, La Civetta sul Comò, is a unique one located in Tenuta Montemagno. Here, tasting itineraries are designed to combine a classic and traditional Piedmontese cuisine, which offer an absolute food excellence at zero kilometre in combination with the enological proposal produced by the Cellar of Tenuta Montemagno Wines.

The Sicilian Executive Chef, Giampiero Vento, deeply in love with this territory and for challenges, creates a right combination with the Estate, with his original food traditions and flavours in all its products.

La Table de Pierre

Le Domaine du Mas de Pierre, Saint Paul de Vence - FRANCE

The gastronomic restaurant La Table de Pierre, managed by Chef Maxime Leconte, has undergone a major overhaul in terms of both its dining space and its cuisine.

Maxime Leconte, originally from Burgundy, has travelled the world to discover its flavours and culinary specificities. He therefore returns from his travels with beautiful products in his luggage but also with innovative ideas in mind.

His gastronomic identity has developed over time to finally express its full potential in La Table de Pierre restaurant. His talent: to combine the multiple flavours of the world with an authentic Provencal cuisine. Also, the table d’hôtes allows gastronomy lovers to admire the chef and his brigade at work.

Cilantro Restaurant

Sun Gardens Dubrovnik - CROATIA

Inspired by a desire to explore the Mediterranean region, the Cilantro restaurant is a diner’s gem that you mustn’t miss during your stay at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.

As the Adriatic Sea whispers on the shore, experience mouth-watering aromas from the spectacular open kitchen and enjoy a light lunch or a quiet romantic dinner for two. Authentic ingredients bursting with flavour and modern culinary techniques make Cilantro the perfect choice for discerning diners seeking delightful dishes in chic surroundings with a breath-taking sea view.

Aila

Fairmont Quasar Istanbul - TURKEY

Inspired by a desire to explore the Mediterranean region, the Cilantro restaurant is a diner’s gem that you mustn’t miss during your stay at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.

As the Adriatic Sea whispers on the shore, experience mouth-watering aromas from the spectacular open kitchen and enjoy a light lunch or a quiet romantic dinner for two. Authentic ingredients bursting with flavour and modern culinary techniques make Cilantro the perfect choice for discerning diners seeking delightful dishes in chic surroundings with a breath-taking sea view.

Aura Restaurant

Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, Santorini - GREECE

Dining in “Aura Beach Front Restaurant” either for lunch or dinner, you will have the chance to be en

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wrapped into a holistic gastronomical adventure, that will not only captivate your taste with a wide selection of exquisite flavors and unique signature dishes.

Another important element that contributes to experience new gastronomical journeys away from the ordinary ones, is the high-quality service of Aura restaurant, that highlights perfectly the delicious gastronomical creations served in the elegant and tranquil setting of the restaurant, as you will have the opportunity to admire the spectacular views of the Aegean Sea that will steal your breath away. Aura Restaurant is dedicated to provide its visitors a culinary breakthrough to a world of flavors.

MEGUmi Restaurant

LOTTE HOTEL MOSCOW - RUSSIA

MEGUmi is a trendy Japanese restaurant that strives for perfection in taste.

A harmony of all the finest and rarest ingredients from all around the world, MEGUmi is a blend of traditional and modern Japanese delicacies, including 20 authentic products that are unique for the Moscow market. MEGUmi also offers a wide selection of Japanese sake.

Two Japanese and two Russian chefs are responsible for the cooking and servicing of these gastronomic masterpieces. The masterful chefs’ work can be observed through the open kitchen at the restaurant.

A recent novelty of the Moscow’s MEGUmi is an aquarium with fresh seafood. True gourmets can now feast their eyes on the exotic marine life and enjoy fresh delicacies such as Kamchatka crab, oysters, lobsters, scallops and mussels.

1621 Restaurant

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, Cartagena - COLUMBIA

It is in the year 1621, more than four centuries ago, when the Clarisas sisters settle in what would be their home for 240 years.

The Santa Clara cloister has more than one story buried under 400 years of history, between the blows of the waves of the Caribbean Sea, the English and French cannonballs. This is how the 1621 restaurant was born in this old Clarisas sisters dining room, watched over by the Mother Abbess from the current cellar. The 400-year-old dining room has become the theater of elegance, where the Chef invites you to delight in a tasting menu and to experiment with the best local products, detailed cuisine, and full of surprises to live an unforgettable moment.

In addition, the Head Sommelier Ana Maria Buitrago has developed pairings designed to highlight the flavors on your palate, with a large selection of wines from the wine cellar awarded by Wine Spectator.

The 1621 restaurant merges the refinement of French haute cuisine, the best of local products, a detailed kitchen full of surprises and a pure invitation to the “Gourmandise” that can be delighted with the tasting menu in various experiences for the palate and the senses for an unforgettable culinary experience.

Long Bay Beach Resort, Tortola - U.S

A relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a delicious meal with your feet in the sand, the 1748 Restaurant offers guests old world charm and a gentle air of elegance.

Located inside an 18th-century rum distillery, this unfussy yet sophisticated dining experience draws inspiration from Caribbean cuisine. Fresh and healthy meals sourced from local fishermen, island farms and the resort’s own herb and vegetable garden deliver the highest quality organic produce from island to table.

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OMNY

An upscale restaurant with great food, design and atmosphere. The OMNY restaurant experience is always underpinned by quality ingredients from across the world and The Sultanate of Oman’s bountiful culinary resources – from the earth and sea.

OMNY’s design and atmosphere creates a global urban experience with warm, welcoming, non-pretentious inside seating. An amazing Oasis themed patio with fire bowl adds on to a unique dining experience.

OMNY’s design and ambience are a testament to big city living, energized by the current global explosion of brasserie style restaurant interiors. Colour and texture are meticulously selected; brushed brass, soft velvets and aged mirrors complimented with an abundance of big leaf plants and greenery that glisten through the sunlit windows help set the mood for this one of a kind concept. Fresh Meat cuts and Omani seafood displayed in abundance, with expert kitchen staff shucking oysters and preparing seafood platters is the perfect way to promote the quality and freshness of the products.

Hormuz Grand Muscat, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Muscat - OMAN

Sokyo Restaurant

The Darling, Sydney - AUSTRALIA

An innovative and creative dining experience born from the heart of Japanese chef Chase Kojima. His dedication to his craft is the bridge between mastery of Japanese cuisine and Sydney’s vibrant modern culinary culture.

Discover the gourmet tradition of omakase, derived from the phrase ‘leave it to the chef’. Sokyo will transport you to an unforgettable experience where Japanese ritual meets fine culinary art. A 23-dish adventure combining the freshest and finest produces handpicked by the executive chef, reserved for 6 guests only.

One of the finest restaurants in Sydney, Sokyo will transport you to an intimate gastronomic experience where Japanese ritual meets fine culinary art.